Draw-bar-centering device.



w. H@ Mmm. DRAW BAR CENTERING DEVICE.

AFPLI CAT!0N FILED 1ULY6|19|5.

l1,225,154.. g ataned Muy 8, 1917( QI my 1 L WITNESSES NVENY'OR,

' mmm/ Mm WILLIAM H. MINEB, oF oHAzY, NEW Yoan.

nnAw-BAn'eEri'rEnrNe DEVICE.

,Specitication of Letters Patent.

rai-enten May s, 1 ai.

Application le'd July 6, 1915. Serial No. 38,090.

7 1o all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WiLLIAM H. Minne, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chazy, in the county of Clinton of New York, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Draw-Bar-Centering Devices, ofwhich the followin is a full, clear, concise," and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecifica# tion.

This invention relates to improvements in draw bar centering devices.

.An object of the invention is to provide a centering device for drawbars of railway cars, which device is so arranged that it willautomatically return the draw bar to the central or normal position andis so constructed to minimize the friction between thecentering'carriage and the draw bar carry-iron, and also between thedraw bar and its support.

In the drawing forming a specification, Figure 1 is an end. elevation ofa ortion of lcar underfrarne, the draw bar being shown in section. Fig.2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the frame employedin my improvement.,

In said drawing, 101O denote center sill or other longitudinal membersof the car underframe connected at their outer ends by means of a tie orbracing strap 11. Secured to the sills and strap 11, and ,dependingtherefrom is a draw bar carry-iron 12, havnga horizontal table portion13. The carryiron 12, as shown, is detachably connected to the carunderframe as by means of bolts 14.

he draw bar 15 is centered by means of a movable frame 16, shown indetail in .Fig 3. As there shown, the frame 16 comprises a pair ofspaced upstanding side walls 17-17, the inner faces of which areoppositely beveled, as indicated at 18-18. On the outer `sides of eachof the side Walls 17, extend outflanges 19-19, each pair wardly pairs ofsupporting an anti-friction roller 20, mounted on a bolt or pin 21,;said rolls 20 riding upon the upper'face of the horizontal portion 13 ofthe `draw bar carry'iron. The frame 16 is also provided with dependingfront and rear walls 22-22 which straddle the draw bar y carry-iron 12,and thus prevent the frame 16 from moving longitudinally of the carl ,Ateach of its four corners the and State part of this .the partsanti-friction roller 26, the upper surfaces of the rollers 26 extendingslightly above the upper edges of the walls so that the draw bar bearsupon ysaid rollers '2G-2o. Secured to the underside of the carry-iron l2is a plate 27, of a substantially wide U shape. Slidably mounted on theplate 2T are two spring followers 2S2S, each of" -said followers havingforwardly and rearwardly cX- tending projections 29-29 at theirr innerends, said projections 29 fitting between the lower edges of the walls22-22 and the shoulders 24a-2st. Each of the followers 28, on its innerface, is recessed indicated at 30, to thereby form a seat for one end ofa spring 31, the spring 31 being held in proper position by' spiders 32formed on said followers, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2.

In assembling the centering device, the followers and spring are firstinserted between the plate or strap 27 and carry-iron 12, the spring isthen compressi-.d and the frame 16 placed over the carry-iron l2, andwhen in its proper position the followers and spring are released sothat the shoulders or projections 29 engage the depending arms 23 of theframe. In this way, it willrhc seen that the followers and irameareself-locked and accidental displacement of eithcil is prevented.

In operation, friction between the dran' bar and its support as the drawbar moves.

in lateral or radial movement of the draw.

bar, friction between the centering frame and .the carry-iron 12 isminiinized,`.v due to the anti-friction rollers 2020.-

lfrointhe foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a centeringdevice for draw liars which is of simple construction, easilyasseizd-led and disassembled, and wherein a re self-locked when inposition.

Although I have herein shown and described what I now consider' thepreferred cmbodinunt of in v invention, yelff l am aware that variouschanges `and modifications may be made in the details of constructionand arrangement o1" parts without de- CIT parting from the spirit of theinvention, and all such changes and modifications are contemplated ascome within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a draw bar centering device, the combination with a carry-iron, ofa centering frame straddling said iron and slidable back and forththereon` said frame having depending arms, a spring and spring followers, said followers and arms having interengaging shoulders which` inoperative position of the parts, prevent accidental removal of eitherthe frame or the followers.

2. In a draw bar centering device, the combination with a carry-iron. ofa-plate secured to the underside of said carry-iron, spring followersslidably mounted on said plate, a spring between said followers, and atraine slidably mounted 011 said carry-iron, said frame having dependingarms on opposite edges of the earry-irou, said arms and followers beingprovided with intereng'aging, self-locking means.

mounted 0n said carry-iron and straddling the latter, said frame havingdepending arms at the corners thereof, each arm havin a shoulderengaging a shoulder of a fo lower, anti-friction means interposedbetween said fralne and the carry-iron, and anti-friction means carriedby said frame upon which the. draw bar iS adapted to be supported.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 5th day of June, 1915.

IVILLIAM H. MINER.

Witnesses:

CARRIE G. RANZ, GEORGIA VICKI-mr.

